Satsuma council interviews first group of final school board candidates

View full sizePress-Register photoSatsuma Mayor Bill Stewart said that the names of the five people chosen to sit on the city's new school board would be announced by June 7, 2011.

SATSUMA, Alabama -- The Satsuma City Council tonight began interviewing a whittled-down list of candidates for the city’s new school board.

Five of 10 final applicants faced the council during half-hour interviews, in which they were asked at least one question from each council member.

Interviews will continue at 6 p.m. Thursday with the second five candidates who are vying for the five open slots.

Mayor Bill Stewart has said the appointments will be announced by June 7.

Satsuma residents in April approved a property tax that will enable the city to start its own school system. The new system will assume responsibility for Satsuma’s three schools -- Satsuma High School, Lee Intermediate and Lee Primary School -- and its approximately 1,100 students, Stewart said.

The unpaid, volunteer school board will be responsible for managing the system’s funds, as well as hiring a superintendent.

Stewart said that the final 10 candidates were narrowed down from a pool of 21 people.

Bates, who owns Income Tax Solutions of Saraland, told the council that she has volunteered in Satsuma’s schools and worked with the city to plan its recent 50th anniversary celebration.

"I live here, and the school system is part of the community," Bates told the Press-Register after her interview. "The better it is, the better the school system will be."

Robbins, who has worked in education systems in Alabama and Mississippi, told the council that she has a vision for the system that includes every child.

"Every student has something that they can contribute to society," she said. "There is a place for every graduate. That is why I am an advocate for vocational programs."

Dial, a district manager for Acceptance Loan Co. and president of Satsuma Youth Baseball, said he would strive to strike a balance between being a friend to students and disciplining them.

"You have to be their friend to help them learn," he said. "But you can’t treat them like a buddy to the point that they come to you to complain about a teacher."

A financial manager, Upton told the council that his analytic personality would help him on the board.

"I am a planner and an executor, and that’s probably my strength," he said. "I am very task-oriented. But I’m not scared to change my plan if someone has a better idea."

Woosley, who works as a government contractor, said he would search for unique ways to teach and encourage Satsuma’s students, including tapping into technologies like Skype to connect kids with international experts and instructors.

"If we do what every other school system is doing, we’re wasting our time," Woosley said. "There are too many people graduating today without a vision for their future. Let’s invest time in their strengths."

Each candidate will be scored by council members on a scale of one to 10, Stewart said. Those who score the top marks will be offered positions on the board; any ties will be broken by further discussion, he said.